Tough targets for Olympic railway

The Docklands Light Railway serves Canary Wharf

Tough punctuality targets will be set for the Docklands Light Railway for its service to the 2012 London Olympics, say transport bosses.

DLR operators Serco will have to run 96% of services on time and cancel no more than 2% a day.

Serco has been running the DLR for nine years and begins a new seven-year £400m franchise this week.

It will also have to improve security on stations and trains with better CCTV and more staff at the biggest stations.

The DLR, which runs through the Docklands and serves Canary Wharf, is already considered a punctual and reliable service.

The DLR is perfectly placed to deliver a world-class railway for a world-class city Ian Brown Transport for London

Ian Brown, managing director of the London Rail section, at Transport for London, said the new franchise would improve things further.

"It will also ensure that the current high standards of punctuality and customer service are maintained," he said.

"The latest figures show 97.1% of trains arriving on time and 96% of passengers satisfied with the service."

More than 50m journeys are made on the DLR every year, and this is expected to rise to 80m by 2009.

The new franchise period covers the DLR extensions to Woolwich Arsenal by 2009 - to serve the Royal Artillery Barracks where Olympic shooting events will be held - and to Stratford International by 2010.

Mr Brown said the service would continue to grow to meet the demands of the regeneration of East London, the Olympics and the Paralympics.

"The DLR is perfectly placed to deliver a world-class railway for a world-class city by 2012," he added.